What are the key issues and trends in urban areas?
Rapid urban population growth. In 2003, Asia’s urban population was 1.5 billion, which is 20% of the world’s population-one in three Asians lived in cities. It is growing at 40 million a year, and by 2030, it may reach 2.7 billion, which is 30% of the world’s population-one in 2 Asians will live in cities. –> • Rapid urban population growth. In 2008, more than half of the world human population, 3.3 billion people, lives in urban areas. By 2030, this is expected to balloon to almost 5 billion. Most of this growth will be in developing countries. The urban population of Africa and Asia is expected to double between 2000 and 2030 (UNFPA, 2007). • Rise of megacities. Urban centers are increasing in size and number. At the beginning of the last century, there were only 11 megacities in the world with populations of more than 1 million each. By 2030, UN predicts that there will be more than 500 cities in the world with populations of more than 1 million each; more than half of these cities
